AFRICA

Prominent South African politician, Jackson Mthembu, has died of Covid-related complications, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced. Mr Mthembu, who since 2019 had been serving as the minister in the presidency, was a parliamentarian and long-serving member of the governing African National Congress (ANC). He had worked his way up the …

The police in Kano state have arrested a 20-year-old lady identified as Suwaiba Shuaibu, for stabbing to death a 17-year-old girl, Aisha Kabir, who her husband had planned to get married to. A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, Abdullahi Haruna, says that on January 2, …

Zimbabwe’s Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo has died after succumbing to Covid-19, the government says. Born in 1960, the former army general gained international prominence in 2017, when he announced the military takeover that ousted long-serving President Robert Mugabe from power. Zimbabwe has recorded a surge in Covid-19 cases since the …

The US has imposed visa restrictions on Tanzanian officials it says were responsible for undermining the general elections last October. The outgoing Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, said those targeted subverted the electoral process and violated human rights. He said the intimidation and arrest of opposition candidates, widespread voting irregularities …

Access Bank Plc, Nigeria’s biggest lender, has identified eight African countries for a potential expansion as it seeks to benefit from a continental-wide free trade pact. Access Bank plans “to expand to high-potential markets, leveraging the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Chief Executive Officer Herbert Wigwe said …

COVID-19 cases in Africa have reached 3.26 million as of January 18, 2021, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s Africa Covid-19 dashboard, the death toll from the pandemic stood at 78,911 on Monday, with 2.6 million …

Troops of Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO in conjunction with the Air Task Force Operation LAFIYA DOLE have effectively destroyed 7 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists’ gun trucks and decimated several unconfirmed number of the terrorists when they attempted to attack their location at the outskirts of Marte in Marte Local Government Area of …

Grammy-nominated Nigerian artiste, Burna Boy has scored another bragging right. His song ‘Destiny’ off the 2019 Grammy-nominated ‘African Giant’ album is featured on the official inauguration playlist of the incoming United States President and Vice-President, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The swearing-in of Biden and Harris as the 46th administration …

Tribal clashes in Sudan’s Darfur region have killed at least 48 people in the latest bout of violence, according to state media. “The death toll from militia attacks in al-Geneina yesterday reached 48,” the SUNA news agency said on Sunday, referring to the capital of West Darfur state and quoting …

A mother and her four children died in a house fire suspected to be an act of arson in Katooke Village, Nansana Municipality in Wakiso District on Saturday. Police identified the deceased as Darren Namutebi, 30, Aisha Birungi, 13, Jennifer Nanyonjo, 8, Mugenyi Seguya, 7, and Israel Ntulume, 6. Kampala …